1.3 Basic Features of Windows
1.3.7 Start menu options
The Start button is located on the Windows taskbar in the lower left hand corner of the Windows desktop. Imbedded in it are several useful Windows features. Clicking on the Start button will easily access the following options.

Run
The Run feature is another method of starting a program, instead of clicking the program's shortcut icon on the desktop or on the list of programs within the Programs directory. The directory is discussed more thoroughly in Chapter 4. Access the Run feature by clicking on Start and choosing Run. This will open a command line entry space into which the program name and any parameters that are needed can be entered. It is similar to entering a command in a DOS prompt window.

Help 
The Help feature provides tips and instructions on how to use Windows, along with an index and search function so information can be found easily. The Help feature for Windows is easy to use. This example will show how to search for help and how to format a floppy disk.

From the Start menu on the taskbar, select Help. Click on the Index tab, type in the keyword phrase "formatting disks". Click Display. The right side of the screen will display instructions on how to format a disk.

Find/Search 
In Windows 95, 98, and Windows NT, Find is used to locate files, folders, and network connections to other computers and peripherals. In Windows 2000, Find has been renamed Search.

Documents 
The Documents menu shows a list of the most recent documents that have been accessed or created. It is a shortcut method for finding documents, and a convenient means of going back to a file that has been used recently. These documents are linked to the applications that created them, so clicking on the document will launch the application as well.

Programs 
The Programs menu lists all of the programs that are installed on the computer. To start a program, click Start > Programs, locate the program to be started, and then click on it. Shortcut icons on the desktop can be made for those programs that are used regularly.